scoutldr

A Scout does not plagiarize. When posting something that's not yours, it is polite and ethical to quote the source.

I disagree. Illegal activity with your parents' knowledge and consent that results in death is not an "accident". The parents realize that...now. Perhaps others can learn from this. As adults, it is up to us to know what the laws are, to recognize unsafe acts and unsafe conditions (not "accidents"), and resist the temptation to keep our kids happy at the risk of severe injury or death. Not to mention the other poor driver who has to live with the fact that a child lost his life under his wheels. Regardless of fault, nothing will ever dull that memory. Thanks for the discussion. I hope we are all more alert and aware.

Wow, Rooster, what a leap! Nowhere did I say that the YP guidelines be thrown out the window. Besides, the boys in my troop won't even shower in front of each other, much less share a tent with a GIRL! When I was 14, I was in one of the first Explorer posts that went co-ed. The term "Exploring" took on a whole new meaning, despite the best efforts of our (bless their naive little hearts) adult advisors. Now that I am pushing 50, I'm pretty sure they were not that naive after all. Quit being absurd. We need to prevent child molestation, sure. But it has nothing to do with sexual orientation. My biggest objection is the BSA's seemingly selective morality. As I have said before, once we get rid of the homos and atheists, who will be next? Alcoholics? Wife beaters? Fornicators? Fat guys?(there goes the Commissioner corps!).

OK, I give. Unlike some others, I am willing to learn and change my opinion of things. The original question was about "official BSA berets". Unofficial ones are available all over town.

Being a mere volunteer, I don't have access to the BSA Administrative Manual, nor to the alleged memos from Irving. I guess I'll have to take your word for it. If Blackeagle says it, it must be true.

I post this because many of our Scout-age youth are enamored with these things. Many have appeared in my neighborhood, darting around on the streets. My heart bleeds for any parent who loses a child. We need to learn to "just say no", or we bear the blame. By JANIE BRYANT, The Virginian-Pilot July 23, 2004 PORTSMOUTH Pieces of the gas-powered scooter that 15-year-old Shamar Green worked hard to buy were scattered on Academy Avenue . His father had picked up his sons sneaker and hung it on the post of a nearby chain-link fence. He bought flowers and prepared to put a shrine there. Winston Green stood in the street trying to make sense of Shamars fatal accident. The only thing he was sure about was a dark, shadowy stain where his sons life had spilled away. The teen was riding his motorized chopper-style scooter when he collided with a sport utility vehicle at the intersection of Academy and Arthur avenues about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The next day there was no traffic, only the quiet enclave of narrow lanes and small homes. The Churchland neighborhood still holds onto some of the charm of its rural past. Winston Green has been back to that spot over and over, trying to picture what happened the night before. His wife, Sandra, wanted to know what happened, too. But mostly she wished she could go back in time. If I had it to do over again, he wouldnt have that scooter, she said. Thats for sure. A couple of Shamars friends had the stand-up type of scooter, she said. But he wanted the miniature motorcyle style after he saw one his neighbor got. Shamar was so excited, she said. He had to have one. Some of the bikes are powered by electricity, while others run on gas. Sandra Green couldnt recall exactly how much her sons scooter cost somewhere between $200 and $400 , she thought. It didnt go faster than 15 or 20 mph, she said. Shamar worked hard to earn a good part of the money, helping his father, who has a power-washing business. He got the miniature motorbike about three months ago and had already taken it apart and put it together again, his mother said. He was curious like that and dreamed of becoming a mechanical engineer one day. He had finished middle school in June and was on his way to Churchland High this year. He loved computers, basketball, fishing with his dad and cooking. He could follow any recipe or cook on the grill, his mother said. I think his favorite was spaghetti, she said. Everyone who knew him loved him, and he would do anything for you. He was kindhearted. As Sandra Green talked, the midday news appeared on a soundless TV, and fresh tears came as she saw a clip of her sons scooter at the wheels of the SUV. Police have not released the drivers name, and no charges have been filed. The investigation is continuing, said Ann Hope, a police spokeswoman. But Hope did say that the scooter, based on the size of its motor, was illegal to use on public roads. And those that can be driven on public roads must be operated by licensed drivers, she said. I spoke with some of the officers here, Hope said. There are a lot of scooters on the roads, and theyre being operated by kids without a license. It is a problem. Police said the 15-year-old was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. That was a surprise to Green, who said her son usually did wear one. He was real careful on it, she said. Thats why its so hard to believe that hes not here anymore.

Yes, there are homosexuals in scouting. Just as they are in every other segment of society. It's their behavior that I would object to, just as I would object to an "avowed" heterosexual whose behavior was overtly sexual in nature.

In my experience, the CORs don't show up for anything. So how can they conduct business at the annual meetings unless they have signed proxies?

I believe the "policy" is that the Troop can vote to wear any of the headgear from the current BSA uniform catalog. But it's an all or nothing thing, e.g., everyone in the troop wears the same thing (hence the term "uniform"!). Same with neckerchiefs or bolos.

I found amusement in those who would pick and taunt and was even more amused at those who took the bait and ran with it. Reminded me of my sister and I growing up, or watching a bunch of Webelos interact. And these were grown adults. Now they have gotten ticked, taken their ball and glove and stomped on home, thus "depriving" us of their expertise. Oh well. Their loss. We still have enough to field a team. After all, "There's no CRYING in baseball!!!!" All right...who's on first? Who's got first ups? Let's have FUN!!!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Perhaps I don't understand the Vigil "honor". What I have observed are: A new DE is assigned the job of OA staff advisor, and within 2 years she is wearing a Vigil sash. Scouters with 30+ years of quiet service to their units who are still "Brotherhood", although they make sure that they deliver a good program and that their scouts get to every chapter meeting, camporee, Ordeal, Fall Fellowship, summer camp, etc. Which is the more worthy contribution to Scouting? Is this even a criteria for Vigil? Or is it a selection based on visibility and familiarity?

These have been out of production for close to 30 years now. I know of no other source other than eBay, thrift stores, estate sales and collectors. Unless you are with a Venture Crew, you can't wear them with the current uniform anyway.

The current issue of BL sports a picture of a brand new Eagle in Field Uniform, wearing the old 60's style overseas cap. I have to admit it looks good, however my understanding is that you don't mix uniform parts from different eras. If you want to wear a 1966 uniform, you wear all of it, not the parts you like. Apparently the editors of BL are not as obsessed about proper uniforming as some of us are. PS: I don't remember red stripes down the leg...only the Marines had that. We had red piping around the front pocket flaps which could be buttoned up or down.

42 C = 107.6 F (hot as hell -- is that what you meant? Equivalent to the hottest areas of the US - Calif-Arizona desert) 42 F = 5.6 C (cool - equiv to our November on the mid-atlantic coast) www.onlineconversion.com (neat site to bookmark)

BSA-bugler: Does the biblical law against tattoos have a higher ranking than the one against eating shrimp and putting cheese on your burger?

It's ok, OGE. "Geometric relationships" have nothing to do with homosexuals or atheists. Didn't mean to trigger your math anxiety.

Actually it's both. "tan" is a trig function. A "tangent" is a geometric relationship. The tangent function is defined by tan(x)= sin(x)/cos(x) The word "tangent" also has an important related meaning as a line or plane which touches a given curve or solid at a single point. These geometrical objects are then called a tangent line or tangent plane, respectively. Class dismissed.

Became a Bobcat in 1962. The rest is, as they say, history.

Reminder: just because nobody's calling you a jerk doesn't mean they don't think you are one. Personally, I like freedom of speech...it tends to dispel ambiguity.

The site could be a great resource for Scouters. As it is, I don't see much there, other than some forms which you really have to hunt for. For instance, on line ordering of all catalog items, all pubs in .pdf format for free download, rules and regulations, etc. There is a section for the Professionals, but it's password protected.

Did a quick Google, Fuzz. Indian Mound Scout Reservation is near Milwaukee. Apparently there is a mound in the image of a turtle (effigy) on the shore of the lake, some 200+ feet in length, discovered in 1851. Thanks for wanting to do a good job, dkong. I assume you are probably a first year staff member. Since you have access to a computer, do some Internet research on the history of the area and the Native Americans who lived there. Remember that Wolf scouts (Cub scouts?) are usually around 7-8 years old, so you have to keep their attention. You need to be a good story-teller and try to take their minds back to that era while you give your talk. Whatever you do, don't read from notes. Know your topic and just talk about it in a conversational tone. This is what the best teachers do. Know your stuff, be friendly and animated (lots of motion), and involve the Cubs in what your're doing. Being lectured to for more than 5 minutes is extremely boring when you're 7 years old.

The state plate of Hawaii has a rainbow on it...and everyone knows what THAT means!

Well, NJ, that very subject has been raised in VA. Every year, hundreds of requests for special plates are sent to the legislature, and each one is considered if it makes it to the floor. Meanwhile, they don't have time to pass the state budget. The DMV already has authority to approve/disapprove "vanity" plates. And if one slips by, any offended constituent can protest and have it pulled from the streets. Since the plates remain the property of the Commonwealth, I, for one, cannot justify plates with religious messages on them (LUV GSUS). I am not anti-religion, but I mean, let's be consistent. The concept of having special plates has been challenged, as well. Some police agencies are complaining that some designs are so complex, it's hard to make out the license number from a distance (the "Tiger" plate of PA comes to mind). I would have no problem issuing special plates to the following: those convicted of DUI, deadbeat parents, and registered sex offenders. (This message has been edited by scoutldr)

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I like Eammon's idea for a short trip. I recently gave my niece one for her birthday...it will work all over town, not just at one store. Most colleges have their own version of a debit card now, too. THey work anywhere on campus, including the book store, coke machines, washers and dryers, library copy machines, etc. I have mixed feelings about them...sure it's more convenient, but when my son wanted to move out of the dorm into an apartment, I took what I would have spent on room and board and divided it by 12 and sent him a check every month. It was up to him to manage the money and pay his rent, food, gas, laundry, cable, internet, etc. He did an admirable job...got an "A" in "Life 101". I think that's a more educational experience than just having a "magic money card" that mysteriously keeps giving and giving. Word to the wise...my sister in law always gives me a Starbucks gift card for Christmas. I just found out the hard way that if you don't use them regularly, they deduct a monthly service fee, soon making the card worthless. I understand this is a common practice.